Sunday, 9 september 2018
Copenhagen

Tivoli Gardens were just gardens 175 years ago, but somewhere along the line it/they became an amusement park. We walked through enjoying the atmosphere, but we didn’t go on any of the rides.

Some aspects of Tivoli are charmingly old-fashioned, like the big outdoor stage where we saw Danish folk dancers like these
waiting their turn. They were preceded by couples in formal dress, dancing in ballroom style to the applause of a big audience.

 

---

The flowers, both in the ground and hanging across the pathways, are beautiful.

One corporate partner for the gardens is Husqvarna, who I associate with chainsaws and big motorcycles — better at tearing vegetation apart than at nurturing it. It’s nice to know that there’s more to the brand.

---

For its very contained size, Tivoli has a serious roller coaster (the track visible behind this guy)

and at least two flying-spinning rides that reminded me of the old Tilt-A-Whirl at Playland, assuming you’re old enough to get that reference.

---

This ride was tame by comparison,

as the beautiful planes just go up and down as they fly around; you don’t get spun around upside-down at top speed.

---

One more reminder of Playland was the bumper cars. It still makes me smile to see people bang into each other with giant grins on their faces.